Sure, for most, the NCAA Tournament is all about the underdogs, Cinderella stories and brackets. But for NBA-types, the tournament is all about watching future draftees perform in high-pressure circumstances.

Among the many players with much at stake this weekend are these five to whom NBA scouts will be paying special attention:

There is some truth to the notion that the NCAA Tournament only helps the stock of potential draftees, that players can't really hurt themselves even if they struggle at this time of year. But in a draft loaded with uncertainty the way this one is, the tournament is going to have some sway.

McLemore has to hope that scouts will either give him a pass for his passive, ineffective performances in the first two games — 13 points combined, on 2-for-14 shooting — or that he turns on the aggressiveness and leads the Jayhawks into the Final Four with two impressive games.

Oladipo's steady climb up draft boards all over the league was validated by the way he played Sunday against Temple. The Hoosiers were on the ropes in that game, but Oladipo led them back, knocking down a crucial 3-pointer with 15 seconds to play, as part of a 16-point, eight-rebound performance.

Oladipo's shooting has improved dramatically, and his combination of athleticism, defensive ability and — as was clear in the win over the Owls — guts make him an NBA-ready contributor.

Payne had a rough game in the Spartans' tournament opener against Valparaiso, committing six turnovers, getting whistled for four fouls and shooting just 2-for-5 from the field. He bounced back nicely against Memphis, though, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Payne is a high-upside prospect with a reputation for inconsistency, but his length and athleticism have left their marks in the minds of scouts, and that could be enough to get him into the late part of the first round.

He's only 5-11, and that's the biggest obstacle between Larkin and a spot in the first round. He's a sophomore and could return to school next fall, but the deeper he leads the Hurricanes into the tournament, the riper the opportunity that Larkin figures to have.

With a lot of uncertainty among the point guards in this draft, Larkin has a good shot at getting himself into the first round. He's not going to get taller next year, so his stock probably will hit its max if he puts on a good show this weekend—and maybe beyond.

Larkin is probably a backup point guard on the NBA level, but with his combination of playmaking and scoring, he could be a good one, even at his size.

Glenn Robinson III, SF, Michigan

Robinson rebounded from a couple of dud performances in the Big Ten Tournament with outstanding showings in the first two games of the Big Dance, scoring 35 points combined on 15-for-19 shooting.

There is still some question as to whether he will enter the NBA draft this year — Robinson probably would be a lottery pick if he went back to Michigan and polished up his game as a sophomore — but his athleticism and basketball instincts will earn him a spot in the middle of the first round if he does choose to enter.

If he can continue the solid scoring he showed in the Wolverines' first two games, he will cement his position.